KIKUYU, Kenya — Chief Justice Martha Koome on Thursday toured the severely damaged Kikuyu Law Courts, condemning the torching of the facility during the June 25 anniversary protests as an “act of terrorism against the justice system.”
The arson attack—part of a wave of violence that accompanied otherwise peaceful Gen Z-led demonstrations—has left court services in the region paralyzed, with hundreds of residents now uncertain about the fate of their ongoing cases.
“We are deeply concerned about what will happen to justice seekers who come here every day,” Koome said during a press briefing after inspecting the site. “Burning court premises is not only an assault on the Judiciary—it is a threat to the rule of law and to every Kenyan who believes in justice.”
All 23 judiciary staff members stationed at the Kikuyu court were reported safe, though the building’s infrastructure, physical files, and court equipment were largely destroyed. No timeline has been given for when services will resume.
Justice in Limbo
The attack has left a trail of disruption: criminal suspects are stuck in remand, civil and family cases are stalled, and the legal community is scrambling to assess the full scope of lost records.
Without comprehensive digital backups, reconstructing case files will be a daunting and painstaking process.
Lawyer Julius Njoroge, speaking on behalf of legal practitioners in the area, called the attack “a gross violation of human rights” and warned that access to justice had been severely compromised.
“This wasn’t just vandalism. It was an attack on the very foundation of our justice system. We urge the public to safeguard institutions meant to serve them,” he said.
Peaceful Protest, Violent Hijack
Koome acknowledged the constitutional right to peaceful protest under Article 37 but noted that criminal elements appeared to have hijacked the demonstrations.
“I believe the majority of Kenyans who took to the streets did so in good faith,” she said. “But those who turned to violence must be held accountable.”
The Kikuyu courthouse was one of several public installations across the country that suffered damage during the protests, which were held to mark the one-year anniversary of deadly anti-Finance Bill demonstrations in 2024.
Koome called on leaders—both state and non-state actors—to urgently come together to address the underlying grievances that continue to fuel civil unrest.
“This is our country. We must find sustainable solutions together,” she said, reaffirming the Judiciary’s commitment to resilience and constitutionalism despite ongoing threats.
Chief Justice Martha Koome conducts an inspection tour of Kikuyu Law Courts which was targeted and extensively damaged during yesterday’s demonstrations.
